Surface decorating method and apparatus



Feb. 9, 1937. VON WEBERN AL 2,069,789

SURFACE DECORATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20, 1935 INVENTORS.Ewao VON h sazz/v BY [aw/9E0 M flame/v7 ATTO EYS.

Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED 4 oFFicE SURFACE DECORATING IVETHOD ANDAPPARATUS poration, Michigan Detroit, Mich,

a corporation of Application August 20, 1935, Serial No. 37,018

13 fiiaims.

This invention relates to a new surface decorating method and apparatus,and particularly to the decoration of parts having relatively raised (ascylindrically convex) surfaces. Examples of parts or elements adapted tobe decorated, as contemplated by the present invention, are: sheet metale. g. moldings and door and window frame members for use in buildings;instrument boards and header panels, rails, etc. for use inautomobiles,and moldings etc. for oflice and household furniture. Theabove indicates the general object.

A specific object is to provide an improved surface-decorating methodand apparatus, by which decorative e. g. imprints may be moreeffectively applied to articles of considerable convexity or concavityor both without substantial distortion of the design or pattern,notwithstanding the fluidity of the decorating medium.

Another object is to provide a novel surface decorating apparatus,having improved operating characteristics when embodied either in apowerdriven machine or hand imprinter arrangement, as will later beshown.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription relating to the accompanying illustrations of preferredembodiments thereof.

In the drawing, which is largely diagrammatic, Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a set of printing members constituting an exemplaryarrangement for a power-driven machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2is a fragmentary sectional view, taken as indicated at 22 on Fig. 1;Fig; 3 is a detail sectional view corresponding to the lower portion ofFig. 2, and showing the relationship of a flexible imprinting memberthereof to work having a convex surface to be decorated; Fig. 4 is aview similar to Fig. 3, showing one form of auxiliary means for locallyurging portions of the imprinting member toward the work.

Applying decorative imprints to work having raised, or relatively raisedand indented, surface effects by means of a flexible belt, is alreadyknown. The present invention is particularly distinguished from suchprior knowledge in that it contemplates supporting the belt at thegeneral region of printing contact, but at points which are out ofalignment with the relatively raised portion or portions of the work.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a pattern cylinder is shown at I, adapted tobe supported as on a shaft 2, and to carry the desired pattern, say anetched intaglio surface encircling the cylinder or covering any desiredportion of it. Parts 3 and ii are rotary members adapted to be supportedas on shafts 5 and 6, respectively, said members being as shown, in theform of indented or flanged pulleys (spool shaped). These form guidesand supports for the flexible printing 5- member which is in the form ofan endless belt 8. The inner surfaces of the belt are supported,

as will be hereinafter described on the guiding and supporting pulleys,and the outer surface of the belt effects the printing, preferablyacting as 101 an offset element in connection with a separate design orpattern surface, as on the cylinder l.

The work W contacts with the printing surface of the belt opposite thepulley 4, and the work may be carried to printing position on a 15'conveyor or equivalent device Ill. A suitable platen 52 having a shaft113 is shown as disposed directly opposite the pulley 4, so as to holdthe work in the desired contact relationship to the belt at the zone ofprinting contact.

It is to be understood that suitable frame members are provided to carrythe supporting shafts above mentioned and whatever auxiliary parts arenecessary to complete the machine, these parts being omitted from thedrawing of this modification in order to more clearly illustrate themore essential subject matter hereof.

Assuming that the mechanism illustrated is for intaglio printing, thecylinder i is provided with a suitable doctor arrangement [5 of anysuitable character, and likewise with vink or graining paste applyingmechanism diagrammatically indicated at IS.

The. flexible belt 8 is formed of material such as will provide highflexibility, tensile strength and suflicient tackiness of surface toenable it to transfer the pigment pattern from the cylinder 1, to thework. The belt may be composed principally of gum material such ascongealed glue and glycerine composition, or any other highly yieldablematerial which is found suitable in the printing art, as a transfer oroffset material.

It may also be additionally reinforced, as will be presently shown.

The spool shaped pulley 3 has a generally cy- ,5 lindrical surface 2!and frustro-conical flanges 26. The inner surfaces of the belt areformed complementary to the cylindrical and conical surfaces of thepulley 3. The belt is thus of truncated V shape in transverse sectionand, in addition, it may have continuous oppositely directed lateralflange portions 8d overlying the outer perimetral surfaces of the pulleyflanges 20, which, as shown, are cylindrical.

The pulley 4 may be formed similarly to the pulley 3 insofar as theflanges 24 are concerned,

so as to fit the side surfaces of the belt, but the central portion 23(also cylindrical, as shown) the pulley 23 may be greatly modified,depending largely on the shape of the work'to be decorated.

'It is assumed that the shafts 5, 6 and 13 have appropriate adjustments,whereby they may be it passes about the pulley 4. This provides the asproper surface for contact with a suitable cleaner (scraper e. g. 25),provided with appropriate ancillary equipment,.such as reciprocator,

separated and brought together in suitable fashion to effect-the propertension on the belt and contact with the work; and it will be seen thatthe belt, where it passes about'the p'ulley3, is maintained'u'ndistorted(surface cylindrical), whereas the belt is free to become distortedwhere desired uniform pressurerfor contact 'with the etched patternsurface on the cylinder I, as well trough, etc., (not shown); With theabove described arrangement, th

. color material may be applied to the pattern surface and carried byrotation of the roll in the direction of the arrow th'ereonto the doctorblade e. g. l and the design transferred to the outer surface'of thebelt 8, at 30.

Assuming the shaft 5 is suitably driven, as indicated by the arrow onthe pulley 3, the color is then carried to the work, transferredthereto, and any excess color material remaining on the belt is scrapedoff by the cleaning apparatus at 25.

In order to strengthen the belt and enhance traction between the beltand the flanges of the,

driving andguiding pulleys, it is preferred to reinforce the convergingside surfaces of the belt; .as by inlays 32, of suitable rubber stockand/or fabric, or cord, as well known in rubber tire building. Thisprovidesa strengthened, wear-resisting and traction affording elementfor contact with the driving flanges of the pulley 3, and insures thatthe belt will not slip at the flanges 24 of the'pulley' 4. Thereinforcements arranged; as shown, do not in any way stiffen theintermediate body of transfer materiaL-hencethe latter is entirely freeto conform to the work. a

The extensions of the beltat' 8a overlying the perimetral surfaces ofthe pulley flanges are useful in providingedge supports for the belt onthe pulley 4, if due to considerable distortion of the belt by the workthe'driving and guiding surfaces at 32 tend to draw away from thecomplementary" flange surfaces of the pulley. These extensions alsodeter the passage of ink orgraining paste to the traction surfaces ofthe belt by increasing the path of travel of such fluid material inorder 'for' it to get to the traction surfaces.

Assuming the work W as shown in Fig. 3 comprises ;a rolled section ofsheet metal having a cyllndrically convex top portion a and underhangingflanges 13, this will ordinarily be supported on a strip (as It!)conforming on its underside to the platen. The platen (and/or) thesupporting strip preferably support the transfer material laterally fromthe work, as indicated in broken lines. It will be noted that thetransfer material of the belt has ample opportunity to yield withreference to. the higher surfaces of the work while at the same timelateral pressure on the belt by the flanges 24 will cause the materialto hug the sides or relatively receding surfaces'of the'work andtransfer the pattern thereto. This occurs with practically no distortionof V the image or pattern offset by the outer belt surface since thebelt is not locally stretched as in ordinary methods. a 1 Referring toFig. 4, the work WI in this illustration has a series of raised ribs atc separated by indented trough portions d. In the event of work of thischaracter, auxiliary means may be used to advantage in the space'betweenthe inside surface of the composition belt and the reduceddiameterportions 23 of the pulley 4, so as to buttress the compositionmaterial opposite the relatively receding or trough-portions of thework. Such means may comprise axially adjustable rings 31 on the shaft6e. g. arranged to be positioned from points at respective sides of" themachine'frame, as by shifting collars 38 arranged to move the rings .tothe desired positions with respect to' the indented areas of the work;.The 1 20 shaftelements 39 and connected with the rings j.

shaft 6. may be hollow and providedwith inside and shift collars bysuitable cross pins 31 and shaft. The particular form of buttressingmeans shown'is by way of example only.

I claim:

38 adapted to move'in appropriate slots in the f V .1.Surface-decorating apparatus, comprising rotary supporting members ontransversely spaced axes, a flexible endless belt carried on saidmembers and having a surface adapted to trans fer a color design to apiece of work by rolling contact therewith, characterized by one of the7 members having means progressivelybuttressing the web of the belt at aregion out of operative alignment with the work. whereby a portion ofthe material is progressivelyurged laterally to Ward thework.

' 2. Surface decorating apparatus for work having relatively raisedandreceding surfaces to be decorated, comprising a. flexible endless 'belthaving a normally fiat outer surface, means to sup,-

port one stretch of the belt over substantially its entire insidesurface for application of a color erally spaced portions only of itsinside surface design from a planar or cylindrical pattern mem- -ber tothe opposite outside surface, and means supporting another stretch ofthe belt from lat-.

so that the intermediate unsupported portions 7 of the beltmay morereadily yield to conform to the work. a r a 3. A surface decoratingapparatus comprising ing'the converging and intermediate inside suraflexible endless gum belt ,of truncated vshaped cross-section, means tosupport a stretch I r of, the belt by substantially continuously engagfaces thereof for application ofa, pigment design to the oppositesurface-of the belt'at'said stretch; and means to support 'a differentstretch of the beltby engagement with the converging side surface,exclusive of at least a portion of the intermediate inside surfaces, fortransfer of the design to the Work. g

4. Work decorating apparatus comprising ,a pair of pulleys and anendless yielding elastic generally flat transfer 'belt embracing thesame and having inwardly converging sides, one of the pulleys havingsurfaces engaging the'inside surface of the belt to relativelynon-yieldingly support its outer surface, the other pulley engaging Ionly the converging side surfaces of the belt that intermediatetransverse portions of the belt may yield in contactwith the work;

5. Work decorating apparatus comprising a pair of pulleys, one havingflanges; andzan endless transferi-belt of .yieldable elastic materialembracing the pulleys, one of the pulleys having a supporting surfaceengaging the inside of the belt in a manner to exert substantiallyuniform outward pressure on it, the other pulley engaging the belt onlyby means of said flanges.

6. Surface decorating apparatus comprising in combination a flexibleendless belt of material suitable to effect a color transfer, said belthaving generally parallel inner and outer surfaces and relativelyconverging side or edge surfaces, pulleys to support the belt in contactwith a pattern member and in contact with the work, respectively, one ofsaid pulleys being arranged to engage said flat inner surface forsubstantially its entire extent crosswise of the belt, the other of saidpulleys being arranged to engage the converging surfaces to guide thebelt while in contact with the work without supporting it opposite thework.

7. Surface decorating apparatus comprising an endless belt of flexibletransfer material, means to drive the belt, and means to guide the samewhile in contact with the work, said belt having a strip of material ofrelatively high frictional characteristics associated therewith at asurface thereof adapted to contact with the driving means.

8. Surface decorating apparatus comprising a belt of flexible transfermaterial, a roller having flanges adapted to guide the belt in contactwith the work, and means having relatively high frictionalcharacteristics reinforcing the surfaces of the belt which contact Withsaid flanges.

9. Work decorating apparatus comprising transversely spaced guides, aflexible transfer belt passing around both guides and adjustable meansoperatively interposed between the belt and one of the guides to locallyapply outward pressure on the belt in a predetermined relationship tothe work.

10. Work decorating apparatus comprising a plurality of guides and anendless belt of flexible transfer material supported thereon, one of theguides being arranged to exert pressure on the inside surface of thebelt in a manner to facilitate the application of a design in color tothe outside of the belt, as from a flat pattern plate or a cylinder, andthe other in a manner to facilitate transfer of the color from the beltto work having relatively raised and receding surface effects, and meansadjustably arranged on one of said guides to locally increase theoperating contact pressure of the belt on the work in selected regionsof the same.

11. Apparatus for decorating surfaces of elongated articles, comprisingan elongated band having flexible elastic transfer material on one sideof it, means supporting the opposite side of the band adjacent its edgeportions only, and means for supporting the work for movementlongitudinally of itself and longitudinally of the band in rollingcontact with color material on the unsupported region of the band.

12. Apparatus for decorating work having relatively raised and recedingsurfaces to be decorated, comprising a flexible endless belt of yieldingelastic material, means for applying a pattern of decorating material tothe outside surface of the belt, means for locally supporting the insidesurface of the belt over an area thereof coextensive with the pattern,and means for locally supporting the inside surface of the beltgenerally opposite the work, but at regions out of alignment, laterallyof the belt, with the relatively raised area of the work.

13. In apparatus for decorating Work having relatively raised andreceding surfaces to be decorated, a flexible endless belt havingelastic transfer material on one side, and means for locally supportingthe opposite side at the active decorating zone of the belt only inregions spaced from each other transversely of the belt, lying onopposite sides of the relatively raised surface of the work and out ofalignment therewith.

GUIDO VON WEBERN. EDWARD WILLIAM HAMANT.

